The Wigan players have been a credit to the club – Paul Cook

Cook’s men now face 12 League One fixtures in 46 daysPHIL NOBLE/REUTERS

Paul Cook urged his Wigan Athletic players to draw inspiration from their FA Cup run as they look to navigate a fixture pile-up and secure promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.

Wigan’s run to the quarter-finals, including victories over Bournemouth, West Ham United and Manchester City, has seen them drop from first to third in League One, where they have played three fewer matches than the leaders, Blackburn Rovers.

Cook said that it had caused them a “massive headache”, given that their rearranged game away to Walsall on Wednesday will be their first of 12 League One fixtures in 46 days, but he hopes that the run will help rather than hinder their promotion campaign.

“It has been great,” Cook said. “For me, it’s coming…

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